125 years of the Eiffel Tower

Updated 1620 GMT (2320 HKT) May 6, 2014

Photos: 125 years of the Eiffel Tower15 photos

125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The Eiffel Tower was built 125 years ago for the Universal Exposition, celebrating the centenary of the French Revolution. The famous Paris landmark, seen here in 2009, was also built as a tribute to French industry and science.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The tower, as seen during construction in 1888. There were 121 men who worked on the construction site.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – A cart sells refreshments underneath the Eiffel Tower in 1961.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – A man named Zazou paints the Eiffel Tower in 1953. The tower is repainted every seven years, necessitating 60 metric tons of paint.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The Eiffel Tower peeks above the morning fog in 2005.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – A lightning bolt strikes the top of the Eiffel Tower during a thunderstorm in 1992.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The sun shines through the tower's ironwork in 1987.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – Children roller-skate on the streets of Paris in 1970.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – Spotlights illuminate the Eiffel Tower during the 1900 Universal Exposition.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – Gene Kelly wears roller skates in Paris while shooting scenes for "That's Entertainment, Part II."

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The tower on a rainy Paris day in 1989.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – The Eiffel Tower is seen above Parisian rooftops in 1959.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – A couple enjoys the view from the Eiffel Tower in 1952. More than 250 million visitors have been to the tower since its construction in 1889.

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125 years of the Eiffel Tower – Leon Collet, a French airman, was killed in 1926 after flying through the base of the Eiffel Tower. His plane crashed and burned after colliding with cables from a radio antenna.

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Photos: 125 years of the Eiffel Tower15 photos

125 years of the Eiffel Tower – Crowds gather in 1939 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower.